Suction cleaning tool having an air pressure actuated nozzle area varying means



Nov. 10, 1953 s. SMELLIE 2,658,229 SUCTION CLEANING TOOL HAVING AN AIRPRESSUURE ACTUATED NOZZLE AREA VARYING MEANS Filed Oct. 27, 1948 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Dona [d 6. J'mellie ATTORNEY.

Fig.2

D. G. SMELLIIE SUCTION CLEANING TOOL HAVING ACTUATE Nov. 10, 19532,658,229

AN AIR PRESSURE n NOZZLE AREA VARYING MEANS Filed 001;. 27. 1948 3Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1 1 v1 A A P INVENTOB. Donald & Smellie BY ATTORNEY.

Nov. 10, 1953 D. G. SMELLIE 2,658,229 SUCTION CLEANING TOOL HAVING ANAIR PRESSURE ACTUATED NOZZLE AREA VARYING MEANS Filed Oct. 27. 1948 v 3Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR.

Donald 0. Jmellie ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 SUCTION CLEANING TOOL HAVING AN PRESSURE AOTUATEDNOZZLE AREA VARYING MEANS Donald G. Smellie, Canton, Ohio, asslfgnor toThe Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication. October 27, 1948, Serial No..56,850

12 Claims, (Cl. 15-9373) The present invention relates to the art ofSuetion cleaners and more particularly to a floor cleaning tool adaptedfor attachment to the opere ating end of a flexible manipulatablesuction hose or tube.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface cleaningtool construction in which the effective nozzle area may be varied atthe will of the operator by suitable manipulation of the suction tube towhich it is attached.

It is a more particular object of the present in.-. vention to provide asuction cleaning tool so constructed that the effective nozzle area maybe selectively varied from a large normal cleaning nozzle to a smallarea high air velocity cleaning nozzle in which change from one to theother is accomplished by an air motor under the control of the operator.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a surfacecleaning tool including a cleaning brush which is movable into and outof surface cleaning position at the will of the opere ator of themechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds when talzen in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the suction cleaning tool forming the subjectmatter of the present invention partly in front sectional elevation andconnected to a suction cleaning device shown on a small scale;

Figure 2 is a large scale view taken substantially along the line 2.-2of Figure l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong the line 3.3 of Figure. l and looking in the direction of thearrows;

Figure 4 is an exploded view showing the component parts of the cleaningtool forming the present invention;

Figure 5 is a View taken substantially along the lines 5-5 of Figure 2and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of a modification of the invention.

Refer ing now to the drawing and first to Figure 1 thereof, there isshown a suction cleaner 1 of the so-called tank type which is connectedby means of a suction tube 2 to a cleaning toolgenerally designated as3. Customarily the suction hose 2 comprises a flexible suction connectedto the cleaner which terminates in an elongated rigid suction tubeforming an operative handle or wand for manipulating the tool 3 upon thesurface undergoing cleaning.

nann es mo e parti ular y o Figures ended-1e ean n oo ow a comprising ama n body por ion 4 whi h includes a e Wall a bott m p ate 5- ha nnozzle p g 1 end walls 2} leaving the front portion The body portion 4is provided witre r a dly roj cted. hollow leev 9 which n to all eng gea d supp t a c e n e bow 1-9 to which th su o u 2 is c nn c d andsecured in suitable manner. The rear wall 5 is. provided with an openingI2 aligned with the interior oi the sleeve to communicate the interiorof housing 4. with the suction tube or elhow H),

he to a d; s de edg de n n th Opening n. he. tor-ward por o o f om ort ob the nd a o id w a s e or land '3 et inwardly of the outer faces of thewalls of the body 4. lhe body A is also provided with a short upstandingfront wall portion l4 defining the lower edge of the. front openingtherein. A fluid pressure, motor seats in. the opening in. the body 4'and consists of a flexible sealing membrane 26 having laterallyprojecting top and side edge cures them into position in the nozzle body.4 and.

also forms an air sea]. therearound. The front closure i8 is providedwith a plurality of securing tabs. 19 adapted to seat within depressions20 in the body 4 formed for that purpose. Suitable securing studs 21pass through the tabs and engage. into the body of the nozzle structure4 to secure the various, parts thereof together. By this means the fluidmotor construction, to be descri ed mor ful y e na er is c pl te ysealed within the interior of the nozzle body structure 4 and the. frontclosure plate It. 4

The membrane 26 or the fluid motor forms a bellows and is. made offlexible material such as rubber, leather or flexible plastic which isreadily deformable and is impervious to air. The flexible membran 21.5has a flexin be d r s m l 27 adjacent the inner face of the top wall ofthe casing 4. The membrane 25- extends the full length of the nozzlehousing and is provided with end walls 28 carrying the end flanges l5which are engagedwi-th the end wall seats of the housing 4' asheretofore described. The bottom and end walls of the membrane 26 areprovided with a bellows fold 29. By reason of the sealing en:

gagement between the flanges |5--|6 of the air motor structure, thewalls of the housing 4, and the cover plate 3 an hermetically sealedchamber 32 is formed between the membrane 26 and the cover plate l8.Interiorly of the nozzle structure the bellows carries a rigid metallicplate 36 having a curved bottom wall portion 3| which rests upon thelongitudinal portion of the bottom plate 6 of the housing 4 whichdefines one edge of the main nozzle opening 1. The plate 30-3| issecurely fastened to the membrane 26 to move therewith.

The plate 36, and the membrane 26, are provided with a central indentedportion 33 extending approximately through the central third of the fulllength of the plate 36. The depression 33 forms a secondary nozzleopening as will be more fully developed hereinafter.

The central portion of the cover plate I8 includes a domed shaped sector34 which matches with a domed shaped section 35 on the main body 4forming a projection of the sleeve 9. As shown most clearly in Figure 2,the domed shaped section 34 is provided with an opening 36 into thechamber 32 which matches with an opening 31 formed in the portion 35 ofthe main housing 4. The portion 35 of the main housing 4 is providedwith a sealing gasket 38 to form an air seal with that portion of thedome 34 positioned above the sealing flange |5 of the membrane 26.

As shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 5, a ring shaped valve plate 46is mounted in the sleeve 9 between the end of the connecting elbow I6and the inner rear wall 5 of the main body 4. The central opening in thering 46 coincides with the opening l2 in the wall 5 to provide freecommunication through the elbow l6 into the interior of the nozzlestructure. The ring 46 is provided with one opening 4| which is adaptedwhen in operating position to communicate the opening 3631 with theinterior of the elbow I6 to subject the chamber 32 to the suctionpressure. The ring 46 is provided with a passageway 42 angularly spacedfrom the passageway 4| adapted when in operating position to communicatewith the openings 36 and 31 and with an exterior opening 43 in thesleeve 9 by reason of which it communicates the chamber 32 with theexterior atmosphere. The ring valve 46 is rotatably mounted in its seatagainst the wall 5 and is provided a with a peripheral groove 44, seeFigure 5, having right and left hand terminal shoulders and 46respectively. The end of the elbow I6 is provided with a projectingtongue 41 which projects into the groove 44 in position to engage theshoulders 45 and 46 when suitably rotated. If the elbow I6 is rotatedcounterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 5, the tongue 41 engages shoulder45 to rotate the valve ring 46 a distance sufficient to align thepassageways 31 and 42 which subjects the chamber 32 to atmosphericpressure. If on the other hand the elbow I6 is rotated in a clockwisedirection the tongue 41 will engage shoulder 46 and rotate the valve 46in a clockwise direction to align the openings 4| and 31 and subject thechamber 32 to the suction pressure prevailing in the elbow W. The tongue41 is so positioned with respect to the shoulders 45 and 46 that aconsiderable free range of movement on either side of the vertical planeis allowed the operator of the wand for manipulating the cleaning toolwithout shifting the valve. The operator must rock the wand a slightdistance beyond a normal operating rocking movement in order to actuatethe valve 46.

The ring valve 46 is supplied with a small spring tab 56 adapted toengage in suitable depressions 5| in the edge of the opening l2. Thedepressions 5| are so located that the spring tab 56 engages in one orthe other when the valve ring 46 is in position to align openings 31 and4| or 31 and 42.

In the position of the apparatus shown in Figure 2, the interior ofchamber 32 is subjected to atmospheric pressure through the passageway3631, 42 and 43 whereas the outer face of the plate 36 and membrane 26is subjected to the suction pressure of the apparatus, hence the bellowsexpands to the position shown in Figure 2 and the plate 36 abuts therear wall 5 of the main casting shutting off the nozzle opening 1 fromthe suction efiect prevailing in the elbow |6 except for the smallnozzle opening 52 which is defined by the space provided between theindentation 33 in the plate 36 and the rear wall 5 of the main housing.This forms a narrow, short, suction nozzle hence the air velocitythrough this nozzle will be very high as compared to that prevailingwhen the full nozzle 1 is in operation. This is the condition whichprevails for the purpose of picking up threads and similar litter whichare difiicult to remove with the normal suction nozzle in operation. Theindented portion of the plate 36 carries a plate 53 which projects tothe plane of the bottom portion of the main casting so as to form afront lip for the high velocity nozzle opening 52. When the operatortwists the wand in the opposite direction to align the passageways 36,31 and 4|, the chamber 32 is subjected to the suction pressureprevailing in the elbow ID. This is also the pressure which is actingupon the outer face of the plate 36 producing a balanced condition oneach side of the bellows structure formed by the membrane 26. When thiscondition prevails, the bellows is collapsed under the action of leafsprings 55 mounted on the opposite end walls 8 of the housing 4. Theends of the leaf springs 55 bear against the outer face of the plate 36and collapse the bellows until the projecting rear nozzle lip element 53strikes the front margin of the wall 6. When this condition prevails,the full nozzle 1 is open to the elbow l6 and normal cleaning with thesuction tool may proceed.

A brush housing 66 is carried by the rear face of the wall 5 in casing4. A surface cleaning bristled brush 6| is mounted within the housing 66upon stud pins 62. C011 springs 63 surround the studs 62 and urge thebrush 6| upwardly into the housing 66 in off the surface non-cleaningposition. One face of the backing of the brush 6| is beveled as shown inFigure 2 and is adapted to cooperate with a beveled wedge 65 positionedagainst the top wall of the chamber 66. The wedge 65 is connected to theplate 36 of the air motor by means of a linkage 66. In the positionshown in Figure 2, the wedge 65 is advanced and has urged the brush 6|into surface engaging position against the bias of the spring 63. Whenthe control valve 46 is actuated by the operator to shift to normal widenozzle operation the bellows collapses opening the nozzle 1 andsimultaneously withdrawing the wedge 65 from position above the brush6|. When this occurs the springs 63 lift the brush upwardly into theinterior of the housing 66 into a non-operative non-cleaning position.

The lower front edge of the plate I6 is secured to the bottom portion ofthe body 4 by securing studs which extend through tabs 16 projectingfrom the lower edge of the plate l8. A soft resilient furniture guard llof rubber, plastic or similar material extends around the lower portionof the nozzle construction except for that portion of the back of thenozzle housing occupied by the brush chamber 60. The furniture guard Iioverlies the joint between the housing sections #3 and I8 and flange I6of the flexible membrane 26 thus sealing this portion of the apparatusand hiding the joints from view.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figure 6. This formof the invention is identical with that heretofore described inconnection with Figures 1 to 5 except with respect to the details of thenarrow nozzle opening. Those portions of the apparatus of Figure 6 whichare identical with corresponding por-,- tions of the apparatusillustrated in Figures 1 to 5 are given the same reference charactersdistinguished by the addition of a prime.

In the Figure 6 form of the invention the narrow nozzle extends the fullextent of the nozzle opening consequently the plate 86 which correspondsto the plate 38 of the Figure 1 form of the invention is not providedwith an indented portion but straight for the full length of the nozzleopening. Expanding movement of the bellows structure and the plate 88 islimited by stop lugs 8| which project inwardly from the inner face ofthe wall 5' of the casing 4. In thi form of the invention therefore thelength of the nozzle is the same under all conditions of use. The nozzleis however changed from a wide normal nozzle 1 to a very narrowelongated nozzle opening 83 when high air velocity cleaning is desired.

In each form of the present invention it is contemplated that thebellows which actuate the floor contacting brush and the nozzle platewhich reduces the size of the cleaning orifice shall be controlled by avalve which is actuated by manipulation of the wand or hose upon whichthe cleaning tool is carried.

In accordance with the present invention mean are provided forselectively varying the cleaning nozzle area by means of an air motorwhich is under the control of the operator of the machine throughmanipulation of the handling rod or wand upon which the tool is mounted.

While I have illustrated and described the invention in considerabledetail, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in thearrangement, proportion and construction of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cleaning tool comprising a body having a cleaning nozzle air inlet,a hollow wand for connecting said tool to a source of suction and formanipulating said tool, means providing a swivel connection between saidwand and said body, movable means for varying the effective area of saidcleaning nozzle, an air motor arranged to operate said movable means,valve means for controlling the operation of said air motor, and meansoperated by swivelling movement of said wand with respect to said bodybeyond a predetermined point for operating said valve means.

2. A device of the character described comprising a surface cleaningnozzle body having a surface engaging air inlet cleaning nozzle and amanipulating wand for connecting said nozzle to a source of suction,means for reducing reducing means into and out of operative re.-.-lation to said air inlet nozzle, and means for selectively subjectingthe interior of said bellows to atmospheric pressure and suctionpressure.

3. A cleaning tool having an air inlet surface cleaning nozzle, amanipulating wand adapted to connect said tool to a source of suctionand connected to said tool for swivelling movement with respect thereto,a surface cleaning brush mounted on said tool for movement betweeninoperative and surface engaging positions, means biasing said brush toone of said positions, an air motor on said tool connected to move saidbrush to the other of said positions, valve means controllingtheoperation of said air mo! tor, and means operated by swivelling movement of said wand with respect to said tool for operating said valvemeans to determine the position of said brush with respect to thesurface being cleaned.

4. A suction air surface cleaning nozzle structure of the type having apassageway therethrough for cleaning air extending from a cleaning airinlet nozzle means to an exhaust connector adapted to be connected to asource of suction and means movable between a first position in whichsaid nozzle structure is conditioned to operate at a first nozzle inletair velocity to a second position in which said nozzle structure isconditioned to operate at a second nozzle air inlet velocity which ishigher than said first nozzle air inlet velocity characterized by theprovision of an air motor structure connected to operate said movablemeans to either of said positions, a control valve meansfor said airmotor including a member movable to connect said air motor selectivelyto said passageway 01' to the atmosphere to cause said air motor tooperate said movable means to a selected one of said positions, andmeans for operating said movable member.

5. A cleaning tool adapted to be connected to a source of suction havinga suction air passageway therethrough terminating in an air inletcleaning nozzle, a surface cleaning brush movably mounted on saidcleaning tool for movement between a first position in which said brushis positioned to engage a surface to be cleaned and a second position inwhich said brush is shifted above the plane of the surface engagingportions of said cleaning tool, an air motor in said tool connected tomove said brush to said first position when activated, spring meansurging said brush to said second position manually operable means forselectively connecting said air motor to the atmosphere to deactivatethe same or to said passageway to activate the same whereby said brushmay be moved into and out of either of said positions during suction aircleaning operation.

6. A suction air cleaning tool of the type having means movable to aplurality of positions to vary the cleaning air velocity characterizedby the provision of a surface cleaning brush mounted on said body formovement into and out of surface engaging position, means forsimultaneously operating said movable means and said brush including anair motor operatively connected to said brush and said movable means tovary the cleaning air velocity and the position of said brushsimultaneously, means including a movable valve element for selectivelyconnecting said air motor to the atmosphere or to a portion of said toolsubject to suction air pressure, and manually operated, means foroperating said valve element to regulate the operation of said airmotor.

7. A suction air surface cleaning tool of the type having means movableselectively to first and second positions for converting said tool tohigh and low air velocity cleaning operation respectively and a suctionair passageway terminated in a swivelled air exhaust and manipulatingwand connector characterized by the provision of an air motor connectedto operate said movable means, a control valve structure for controllingthe operation of said air motor including a member movable to firstposition and a second position to connect said air motor to theatmosphere and to said passageway respectively, and means on saidswivelled air exhaust member for engaging said valve member to move thesame to said first and second positions as said air exhaust member isswivelled beyond a normal range of swivelling motion on opposite sidesof a normal neutral position.

8. A suction cleaning tool comprising a body having an air inlet nozzle,means for connecting said body to a source of suction, a plate having anotch in one edge thereof, means mounting said plate in said body formovement to and from a position in which said plate blocks flow ofcleaning air into said nozzle except through said notch, a bellows insaid body arranged to operate said plate, a valve structure in said bodymovable between two positions in one of which the interior of saidbellows is open to the asmosphere and in the other of which the interiorof said bellows is open to said source of suction, and means for movingsaid valve structure to a selected one of said positions,

9. A surface cleaning tool comprising a body portion having a surfacecontacting face formed with an air inlet cleaning nozzle, said bodyportion having an air outlet adapted to be connected to a source ofsuction and wall members defining an air flow passageway from saidnozzle to said air outlet, a casing element and flexible bellows securedto said body portion to define a sealed air chamber therewith, one ofsaid wall members being mounted for movement by said bellows withrespect to the other of said wall members, a nozzle varying membermounted for movement by said movable wall member to vary the area ofsaid air inlet nozzle in said surface contacting face, a valve structureincluding a part movable between two positions in one of which said airchamber is connected to the atmosphere and in the other of which saidair chamber is connected to said air flow passageway, resilient meansbiasing said movable wall to move in a direction to contract saidbellows, and means for operating the movable part of said valvestructure.

10. A surface cleaning tool comprising a body portion having a surfacecontacting face formed with an air inlet cleaning nozzle, said bodyportion having an air outlet adapted to be connected to a source ofsuction and wall members defining an air flow passageway from saidnozzle to said air outlet, a casing element and flexible bellows securedto said body portion to define a sealed air chamber therewith, one ofsaid wall members being mounted for movement by said bellows withrespect to the other of said wall members, a nozzle varying membermounted for movement by said movable wall member to vary the area ofsaid air inlet nozzle in said surface contacting face, a surfacecleaning brush mounted on said tool, means biasing said brush out ofsurface engaging position, means operated by movement of said movablewall in a direction to restrict the effective area of said nozzle formoving said brush to surface contacting position, a valve structureincluding a part movable between two positions in one of which said airchamber is connected to the atmosphere and in the other of which saidair chamber is connected to said air flow passageway, resilient meansbiasing said movable wall to move in a direction to contract saidbellows, and means for operating the movable part of said valvestructure.

11. A cleaning tool for suction cleaning apparatus comprising a bodyportion having a surface engaging part provided with a suction cleaningair inlet nozzle opening, means for varying the area of said air inletnozzle in said surface engaging part, a surface cleaning brush mountedon said body portion for movement to and from surface cleaning position,an air motor for operating said nozzle area varying means and connectedto move said brush to surface engaging position when said nozzle areavarying means is operated to restrict the area of said nozzle, valvemeans for controlling said air motor, and means for operating said valvemeans.

12. A cleaning tool comprising a nozzle body adapted to be connected toa source of suction and having a surface engaging suction air inletcleaning nozzle, movable means for varying the efiective air inlet areaof said cleaning nozzle, a bellows having a movable wall subjected tothe suction air pressure applied to said nozzle and connected to actuatesaid movable means, and valve means for selectively subjecting theinterior of said bellows to atmospheric pressure and said suction airpressure.

DONALD G. SMELLIE.

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